12 Apr 2016
Social housing provider, RCT Homes has selected Guardian24’s state-of-the-art
MicroGuard device to protect their lone working and at-risk employees.
RCT Homes, is a
registered social landlord to over 11,000 properties in a diverse and highly
disadvantaged area of South Wales. From allocating housing and collecting rent
to major home refurbishments, RCT Homes’ employees are regularly involved
within the community. Much of the work performed by RCT Homes involves
employees working alone in tenants’ homes. Without immediate help at hand, Housing
staff are exposed to a greater risk of assault, attack or sustaining injury
whilst performing their duties.
After consulting with Guardian24, RCT Homes decided to replace
their incumbent personal safety alarms with over 250 MicroGuard devices. With
the ever growing problem of attacks on Housing Officers, it was essential for
RCT Homes that the safety device they were using had two-way audio
capabilities, something their previous solution had lacked. The MicroGuard
would enable users to raise an alarm simply by pressing the device’s central
SOS button. This would connect them to Guardian24’s Alarm Receiving Centre
(ARC) where two-way audio enables a trained Controller to either listen in to
the situation, or speak if safe to do so.
The MicroGuard also features a voice memo button, allowing
the user to leave a pre-alert message with details such as where they are going
and who they are meeting. ARC Controllers can then listen to this information
as soon as an alarm is raised.
The flexible design of the MicroGuard enables RCT Homes’
staff to wear the device discreetly in a number of ways - as pendant on a lanyard,
attached to a belt holster, or ID card or carried as a keyring. This is a
crucial element of the device, allowing it to remain unseen by an aggressor in
potentially dangerous situations.
Certified to the highest industry standards, including ‘Secured
by Design’ and BS 8484, Guardian24 are able to summon the highest level of
Police response to assist the user. The Guardian24 service proved a success
when an incident occurred during one employee’s visit to a tenant’s home. The
tenant became verbally aggressive towards the member of staff who subsequently
pressed the alarm button. Controllers at the ARC were able to listen in to the
situation and once it was safe to speak, confirmed the safety of the member of
staff and contacted managers within RCT Homes.
Claire Overd, Support Services Team Manager at RCT Homes
commented, “We were impressed by the device’s ability to listen in and have
two-way communication. It’s necessary for us that all staff can speak with a
responder should something like this happen again.”
Will Murray, Guardian24’s Marketing Director added, “Fortunately,
on this occasion the employee was not physically harmed, but it’s a sad fact
that changes to the benefits system are leading to an increase in violence
towards housing staff.
“As Guardian24 is certified to the highest possible industry
standards, every alarm we receive is treated as life-threatening and our Controllers
will keep the alarm open until they are certain the individual is safe.”
To find out more about the MicroGuard and Guardian24’s service, please visit:www.Guardian24.co.uk
Guardian24’s parent company, Send For Help has been listed in the London Stock Exchange Group’s “1000 Companies to Inspire Britain” report, which showcases the country’s most dynamic and inspiring businesses.
In its fifth year, the report which is supported by Theresa May is a celebration of some of the fastest growing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK.
The Epsom-based tech firm was selected after outperforming peers in its sector, demonstrating sustained revenue growth of 254% between 2013-16, with its annual turnover reaching £8m.
Guardian24’s Parent Company, Send For Help has been included in this year’s prestigious Financial Times “FT1000” list of Europe’s fastest growing companies.The list comprises of the top 1,000 companies in 31 countries across Europe that have achieved the highest percentage growth in revenues between 2013 and 2016.
Send For Help, the largest lone worker protection provider in the world was ranked 625th on the list — one of just 158 other companies from the UK — thanks to revenue growth of 254% between 2013-2016 and an annual turnover of £8m. Total staff numbers in 2016 stood at 70 — a rise of 34% over the same period.